History
United Kingdom
NameMV London Statesman (1963–79)
Port of registryUnited Kingdom London (1963–79)
BuilderUddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla[1]
Cost£1,310,000[2]
Yard number191[1]
Launched30 January 1963[1]
Renamed
  • Agia Marina (1979–81)
  • Olympiakos (1981–83)
  • Skaros (1983–84)[1]
IdentificationUK official number 304576[1]
FateDamaged by Exocet missile in 1984 and scrapped [1]
General characteristics
Tonnage
Installed power10,000 bhp[1]
Propulsion
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)[1]
Notes

MV London Statesman was a dry cargo ship built by Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla in Sweden for London & Overseas Freighters (LOF).[1] She was launched on 30 January 1963, completed on 26 June of that year[1] and cost just over £1.3 million.[2] LOF employed her on the tramp trade.

On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War the London Statesman was unloading a cargo of rice in Nha Trang in South Vietnam when her engine room flooded and she sank by the stern.[1] Sabotage by the Viet Cong was suspected.[1] On 31 July she was refloated and towed to Singapore for repairs.[1] She continued to trade with LOF until 1979.[1]

On 5 January 1979 LOF sold her to Diana Shipping Agencies who renamed her Agia Marina.[1] In 1981 Diana Shipping sold her to new owners who renamed her Olympiakos.[1] In 1983 she was sold again to OBI Island Maritime who renamed her Skaros.[1]

On 1 February 1984 during the Iran–Iraq War Skaros was one of four merchant ships in a convoy outward bound in the Bandar Imam Khomeini Channel.[5] Iraqi aircraft attacked the convoy with Exocet missiles, hitting all four ships.[5] Skaros was hit in the engine room and set on fire.[1] She was towed back to Bandar Imam Khomeini that same day, where her insurers declared her a total loss.[1]

References

Sources and further reading

  • Grimord, David Leslie (30 September 1986). "Appendix I" (PDF). The Iran-Iraq War: A Juridical Analysis of the Attacks on Neutral Ships and Visit and Search Operations in the Persian Gulf (Master of Laws thesis). George Washington University. p. 98. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  • Sedgwick, Stanley; Kinnaird, Mark; O'Donoghue, K.J. (1993) [1992]. London & Overseas Freighters, 1948–92: A Short History. World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-68-1.
  • Sedgwick, Stanley; Sprake, R.F. (1977). London & Overseas Freighters Limited 1949–1977. World Ship Society. ISBN 0905617037.
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